Adjustable mounting fixture



United States Patent M 2,910,291 ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FIXTURE Louis K.Courcier, Costa Mesa, and Gilbert Ferguson, Jr.,

. i Irvine, Calif.

v The present invention relates generally to a selectively positionablefixture for supporting a workpiece or the like and is especially adaptedfor supporting a complicated workpiece in virtually any desiredorientation during maintenance, servicing or repair operations.

The device of the present invention in its preferred form hereinafterdescribed and illustrated is particularly well adapted to support acarburetor in any position desired by a mechanic working on it, but itwill be understood that the fixture has application to the support ofother similar things as well. It is well known that modern automotivecarburetors include a number of adjustable elements thereon which mustbe carefully serviced periodically in order to keep the carburetor inoptimum operating condition. Servicing of such adjustments is made moredifficult by reason of the compact design and relative inaccessibilityof component parts characteristic of carburetors.

proper such as throttle and choke linkages, control means responsive tomanifold pressure and the like. The presence of these auxiliarycomponents, frequently projecting outwardly at irregular angles,together with the fact that the various items to be adjusted orotherwise serviced are normally oriented in different and unusualpositions, makes the servicing or overhaul of a carburetor a complicatedtask. It is normally impossible to rest the carburetor upon the flatsurface of a work bench or similar supporting plane other than, at most,in a single orientation unsuited to permit complete servicing andadjustment operations.

The device of the present invention solves the problems resulting fromthe above facts by providing a fixture to which a carburetor may befastened and including means by which the carburetor so held may be.

placed in any one of a number of different orientations for theconvenience of the mechanic during servicing. The device includesselectively positionable jig arms provided with upstanding studspositionable longitudinally of the arms, the studs being thusadapted to-fit the holes normally provided in the base of the carburetor by whichit is attached to its engine. The present device is therefore adaptedfor use with any carburetor having mounting holes in any location andrelation with one another and the studs by which the carburetor is heldmay be readily initially positioned by using the gasket of thecarburetor as a template.

The jig arms are supported for pivotal movement about two perpendicularaxes relative to support arms, which are themselves slidablypositionable along a cross bar. The cross bar in turn is pivotable abouta pair of perpendicular axes relative to a support bar or standard whichis rigidly mounted in any suitable manner such as by being clamped inthe jaws of a vise.

As a result of the structure above briefly summarized, the jig arms andthe studs mounted thereon are eflectively pivotable or rotatable aboutthree mutually perpendicular axes, thereby permitting the positioning ofa carburetor Moreover, auxiliary components are frequently attached tothe carburetor;

Patented Oct. 27, 1959 2 attached to the studs with any to the mechanic.

Conveniently releasable locking means: are provided for retaining theparts in the positions desired.

Accordingly the invention has for itsobjects to disclose a mountingfixture of novel design; to provide in such a device means forpositioning the fixture in any rotational position about three mutuallyperpendicular axes; to provide attachment means in the form of studsreadily positionable to fit the mounting holes of a carburetor or thelike, however such holes may be located relative to one another; toprovide such a structure with locking means for retaining the parts indesired positions; and to disclose such a device which is rugged anddurable in construction but relatively inexpensive in manufacture.

The foregoing objects and purposes, together with face or surfacepresented others, will become clear from a study of the followingdescription of a prefer-red embodiment thereof, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view ofa preferred form of apparatus embodying the present invention including,fragmentarily shown, the lower portion of a carburetor or similar devicesupported on the fixture.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the carburetor orother supported member omitted and the mounting studs being shown insection.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1 except that the jigarms and workpiece mounted thereon have been rotated 90 about ahorizontal axis in order to facilitate inspection and repair of theworkpiece in a different position from that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 with the cross bar rotatedapproximately 90 about a vertical axis and the jig arms and studsadjusted to accommodate a work- I piece having irregularly locatedmounting holes.

Referring now in detail to the drawings there is shown in Fig. l a.vertically oriented support bar or standard indicated generally at 10which may be rigidly supported by suitable means (not shown) such aspermanent attachment to a work bench, clamped in the jaws of a vise orthe like. The vertical standard 10 terminates upwardly in an enlargedhead indicated generally at 12 having a horizontal bore 14 formedtherethrough (see Fig. 3). Atom end of the bore 14 there may be formed afrusto-conical face 16, and a horizontally disposed support shaftindicated generally at 20 includes an end portion 18 journaled in thebore 14. The shaft 20 is provided with a frusto-conically formedenlarged shoulder 22 and the end portion 18 has a threaded bore 24 intowhich a bolt or the like 26 may be engaged. The head of bolt 26.abutsthe end of head 12 through a washer 28, and it will be seen thattightening of the bolt 26 serves to draw shaft 20 leftwardly as seen inFig. 3 and thus to lock the shaft in anydesired angular relation withhead 12 by reason of the frictional contact between the frusto-conicalshoulder and face.

Means are provided at the outer end of the shaft 20 for pivotallysupporting a mounting fixture and for lock-- ing the fixture in anydesired pivotal position relative to bolt indicated generally at 36serves-,as the pivotal axis;

. round. which the plates 32 and. 3.4 may pivot. or rota e and suchmeans. are. here shown as. including a latch finger indicated generallyat 40 extending vertically through a. slo 42. forme the haf nd.pivctable about, Pillot P n 44 rried; by the shaft- The upper portion ofthe fing r is. ad pte to e received. in. a selected one. of a number ofsl s 46'. 4: and t rmed in the plate 32. and i r i i ntly h l i thereinby spring. means; such as are. indicated at; 52. It. will be. underst odthat additional. slots, spaced; as, desired, maybe provided-i. T e outerportions of the plates; 32 and: 34 a e. rigidly fastened to a ro s ar idicated generally at 56. by suitable means s 12 as; welds. 57; and 58.The cross. bar is, of polygonal sec.- tion, desirably rectangular as,shown, and. is. preferably hollow to minimize weight.

. A pair of bifurcated arms. are. slidably mounted, upon the cross bar56 and are indicated generally at 60 and 62'. The inner ends of arms.are fixed to sleeves 6,4 and 66 having rectangular bores formedtherethrough in order to. be longitudinally slidable. but nonarotatableruponthe rectangular crossbar 56. Suitable means such as; set screws 63and 7 0. are provided in the sleeves (see-Fig. 6) in order toselectively lock' the arms, in desired} positions. longitudinally of thecross bar 56. Each of the. cross bars is adapted to pivotably support ajig armat its outer end as will be now described.

Ann 60 carries at its outer end a pivot pin 76' (see Fig. 5) extendingacross the space between the bifurcated portions of the arm, and anangle bracket indicated. generally at 78 is journalcd on the pin 76.Bracket 78 in cludes a lower plate 80 desirably having a semi-circularperiphery 82 in which may be formed a number 0t slots 84, 86- and 8%.There is also formed in the plate 510 an opening 90 through which thepivot pin- 7'6 passes. Latch means are provided for locking the bracket78 in desired pivotal relation with the arm 60 and includea latch fingerindicated generally at 90 resiliently biased by' suitablemeans 92 intothe position seenin Fig. 2 wherein the upper end. of the latch finger isreceivedin a selected slot 84 of plate 80.

Bracket 78 includes anupper plate lying in a plane preferablyperpendicular to the plane of'plate 80-, and the upper plate 100pivotably supports a jig arm indicated generally 'at 102; Specifically;such arm is desirably in the form of a hollowrectangle as seen in; Fig.5 and intermediate its ends is provided with a pair of alignedopenings104 and 106 in its upper and lower'walls through which a bolt 108extends, the lower portion of the bolt being received in a bore 110formed in the plate 100. It will be seen that this construction permitsrotation of ing 42 form d. in a. flange or other portion 144 of thecarburetor. A spacer sleeve 146 of any desired length may be included,and a conventional nut 148 and washer 149 serve to retain the parts intheir position seen in Fig. 4.

A similar insert 152 and stud 154 arrangement is provided in the otherend of the jig arm 102, with the stud 154 projecting upwardly throughthe slot 124.

The construction of bifurcated arm 62 and the mechanismmounted thereonare similar'to the preceding. Thus, an angle bracket indicated generallyat 164 is similar to angle bracket 78 and latch means indicatedgenerally at 165 are provided similar to latch 90. This bracket 164 ispivotably mounted about pin 162 as an axis carried by arm 62, andincludes an upper plate 166 to which jig arm 170 is pivotally connectedby the pin or bolt 168. Jig arm 170 is identical to the arm 102 andincludes longitudinally slidable. support studs 172 and 174.corresponding to studs 154i and 130 of the jig arm 102 and slidable inslots I76- and 178 respectively.

The versatility of the present device inpositioning aworkpiece suchas acarburetor in any desired orientation- 4 will be. readily appreciatedfrom the foregoing description supplemented by a comparison of theposition of the fixture shown in Figs. 1 and 2 contrasted with theexemplary positions of the fixture shown in Figs. 7 and 8'. Thus,assuming that in Figs. 1 and 2 the shaft 20 and cross bar 56- aredisposed horizontally, the carburetor 150 issupported in its typicalposition as shown. In this positionacccss may be readily had to thebottom or sides of the carburetor by rotation of shaft 20 about itsownaxi's. In- Fig. 7, by rotation of the carburetor and jig arms aboutthe trunnion axes 76 and 162, other faces of the jig arm 102 about thebolt 108 as an axis as indicated bythe arrows at the outer end of arm102 in Fig. 2.-

Mea-ns are provided in the jig arm 102 for adjustablypositioningupstanding support studs for attachment to a workpiece such as acarburetor'or'the like to be mounted? on the present fixture. jig arm toaccomplish this is seen generally in Fig; 2 and in detail in Fig. 4.Desirably the interior of jig arm 102 is in the form of a hollowrectangle or other polygonal shape as seen in Fig. 4 and an insertmember is slidable longitudinally within the jig arm. The upper wall ofjig arm 102 is provided with a pairof elongated slots 122' and 124 and astud indicated generally at includes a lower threaded shank 132extending downwardly through the slot 122 into engagement with athreaded bore 134 formed in the insert 120. Stud 130 includes anenlarged hexagonal portion 136 to facilitatetightening the stud. intoinsert 120 and thereby position the stud in a desired positionlongitudinally of the slot 122'. As seen in Fig. 4' the stud 130'includes an upwardly projecting shank threaded at its upper end, and acarburetor or similar workpiece indicated generallyat" 1 50may'bernounted upon the stud-130through an' open- A preferredconstruction of the the carburetor are presented to the mechanic, and,again, theentire structure can be rotated about the axis of shaft 20 andlocked frictionally insuch rotated position by means of bolt 26 and thefrusto-conical members 22 and 16- described in connection with- Fig. 3.Further adjustability of the fixture is illustrated in Fig. 8 where,from the position of Fig. 2, the cross bar 56 is rotated about the axisof bolt 36, the fixture being locked in thenew position by engagement ofthe latch finger 40 with the slot 46 of plate 32.

Fig. 8 also illustrates the adaptability of the fiXUllIC mounting; studsto fit themounting holes of a carburetor regardless of the relativearrangement of such holes. This adapt-ability follows from theadjust-ability of thearms 60 and 62 longitudinally of the cross bar 56,the pivot-ability of the jig arms 102 and relative to brackets 78 and.164, the longitudinal adjustability of the studs 130; 154, 172 and 174along their respective jig arms and the use of spacer sleeves such assleeve 146 or selected lengths; The locations ofthe four studs may bequickly selected for a given carburetor by using the conventionalgasketof the carburetor as a template, and this is particularlydesirable where the mounting holes 05 the carburetor arearranged otherthan in the form of a rectangle. For example, the jig arms 1-02- and 170as shown in Fig; 8' are-positioned to form an irregular quadrilateralsuch'as might be encountered in the case of a carburetor of unusualdesign.

Accordingly it will be seen that the present fixture providesconveniently lockable or latchable rotatability aboutthree angularlyrelated pivotal axes. In the position of" Figs. 1' and 2 such axes aremutually perpendicular, the axis of shaft 20 lying in the plane of thepaper and being typically horizontal, the axis of bolt 36beingperpendioular thereto. and typically vertical, and the axis oftrunnions 76 and 162 being perpendicular to the axis: of bolt 36 andtypically horizontal and preferably perpendicular to the axis of shaft20. The entire structure is made of rigid materia'l ofi sufficientstrength for the purpose, prefer ably steel, and is remarkably light andeasily maneuverablein use.

Modifications and changes from the specific forms of the inventionhereinabove shown and described will occur to those skilled in the artand such modifications and changes not departing from the spirit of theinvention are intended to -be embraced within the scope of the appendedclaim. 7

We claim:

A mounting fixture comprising a vertically oriented standard having anenlarged upper head provided with a transverse bore therein; a supportshaft having one end portion journaled in said bore and including ashoulder frictionally abuttable against said head, a vertically disposedtransverse bore adjacent its other end and a vertical slot intermediatethe ends and spaced outwardly from said shoulder; means for selectivelydrawing the shaft shoulder into contact with said head; a cross barassembly including a polygonal cross bar and a pair of spaced parallelplates fixed to the cross bar and provided with aligned openings, theplates being spaced to receive said other end of the shaft therebetweenwith the aligned openings registering with the shaft bore, one of saidplates having a generally semi-circular periphery provided with a numberof arcuately spaced slots formed therein; a pivot member extendingthrough the registering openings and bore; a latching member extendingthrough the shaft slot and pivotally mounted therein and means biasingone end of the member toward said one plate and into locking 6engagement with a selected plate slot; a pair of parallel support armsnon-rotatably but longitudinally movably mounted on the cross bar, thearms projecting outwardly from the cross bar; brackets pivotally mountedupon the distal ends of said arms 'for rotation about an axis parallelto said cross bar; means for selectively looking at least one of saidbrackets in selected pivotal relation with its support arm; jig armsmounted upon said brackets for pivotal rotation about axes disposedbetween the support arms and transverse to said cross bar; andupstanding stud members carried by the jig arms and selectivelypositionable therea-long.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS456,164 Scudder July 21, 1891 1,386,318 Cowan Aug. 2, 1921 1,453,901Andersen May 1, 1923 1,600,835 Manley Sept. 21, 1926 2,106,525 HenryJan. 25, 1938 2,188,433 Friese -2- Jan. 30, 1940 2,359,249 Scheer Sept.26, 1944 2,588,810 Dietrich Mar. 11, 1952 2,669,958 Sweeney Feb. 23,1954 2,825,477 Ross Mar. 4, 1958

